From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Pavel Datsyuk (born July 20 1978, in Sverdlovsk, USSR) is a professional Ice Hockey Center in the NHL, playing for the Detroit Red Wings.
Datsyuk grew up in Yekaterinburg and was never considered an elite player. He stayed with local teams throuhout his youth, and was passed over in the 1996 and 1997 NHL entry drafts. In 1998 he was selected 171st overall. At age 22 Datsyuk made it to the top Russian league playing for Ak Bars Kazan.
Despite his 5'11 height Detroit began to view him as one of the teams most valuable prospects and in 2001 brought him to the NHL, putting him on a line with veteran sniperBrett Hull. Datsyuk had a strong first season and helped the Red Wings with their third cup in five years. In the 2002-2003 season Datsyuk increased his numbers.
He rose to great prominence in the 2003-2004 season. With the departure of Sergei Federov and the decline of Steve Yzerman he became a pivotal player on the Wings.
